Hearts take Scottish Cup victory

Hibernian's long wait to lift the Scottish Cup continues after they were thrashed 5-1 by Edinburgh rivals Hearts in a one-sided final at Hampden.

The Easter Road side travelled to Glasgow looking to end a 110-year drought in the competition but ended with 10 men, their manager Pat Fenlon in the stand, and their dignity in shreds as Hearts romped to their first final win in six years.

Darren Barr's first goal for Hearts and a strike from Rudi Skacel put Paulo Sergio's side into a comfortable lead against a ragged-looking Hibernian. A goal from Hibernian skipper James McPake did not save them from conceding via Danny Grainger and Ryan McGowan, and Skacel scoring a second.

The Jambos had not lost to Hibs in three years and one theory was that an early goal would see them continue that run. It was a notion that was to be put to the test - and ultimately proved correct - when the Tynecastle side took the lead, although the goal came from an unlikely source.

The Hibernian defence failed to clear Grainger's corner from the left, and as the ball bobbed around the box, McGowan's blocked drive fell kindly to former Falkirk player Barr who stabbed it past goalkeeper Mark Brown from close range.

In the 27th minute, after McPake had headed a Leigh Griffiths free-kick wide of the far post, the length of the journey back increased when Skacel doubled Hearts' lead, with the Hibernian defence again culpable.

A third goal for the Gorgie men would have surely ended the game before the interval but, four minutes from the break, McPake was on the end of an Isaiah Osbourne cross to slide the ball past Jamie MacDonald from a couple of yards out.

With the green and white hordes still celebrating, Ivan Sproule replaced Jorge Claros, but two goals in four minutes after the break had the maroon and white ribbons on the cup.

Barely a minute had gone when referee referee Craig Thomson pointed to the spot after Hibs defender Pa Kujabi fouled on Suso Santana inside the box, his second bookable offence. Grainger slammed in the spot-kick and three minutes later McGowan made it 4-1.

Grainger's corner found Skacel whose mis-hit shot was helped on by Stephen Elliott and parried up in the air by Brown, giving McGowan an unmissable chance.Those Hibs fans who remained saw Skacel firing in his second from the edge of the box with 15 minutes remaining and boss Fenlon sent off seconds from the end after reacting to taunting from Hearts fans.